Machine for pressing leaves of tobacco



. (ModeL) W-. R. LASSITER.

MACHINE FOR PRESSING LEAVES OF TOBACCO.

PaltentedOot. 2, 1888.

(Emma Mam W GMO LMM J UNITED STATES Fries.

PATENT WILLIAM R. LASSITER,

OF HIOO, KENTUCKY.

PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,238, dated October2, 1888.

Application filed April 23, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. LASSITER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hico, in the county of Oallaway and State of Kentucky, haveinvented a new and useful Machine for Pressing Leaf-Tobacco, whichinvention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The invention relates to improvements in machines for pressing the handsor bundles of leaf-tobacco; and it consists in the construction andnovel combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in theclaim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of the machine. Fig. 2represents a side view of the same.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the rectangularvertical frame of the machine standing upon the base a.

B is a transverse shaft journaled in the side uprights of the mainframe, and having on its extended journal the crank-handle (J. D is awheel detachably secured on said shaft, and having the circumferentialgroove (1, pro vided with outwardlybeveled sides. The said wheel iscomposed of the two outer disks (1 d and the central disk d", of smallerdiameter, so that the wheel can be taken off the shaft and a smaller orlarger central disk be substituted,in accordance with the sizes of thehands pressed.

E is a wheel above the wheel D, and likewise made of the outer disks eand the central disk 6. The central disk, however, is of larger diameterthan the side disks, so that it forms on the complete wheel thecircumferential flange 6 which enters the groove d in the wheel D. Thesaid flange has not beveled but rectangular edges, and its diameter ismuch less than that of the lower wheel, so that it concentrates thepressure on less surface than a wheel of larger diameter would. Byhaving the edges of the groove beveled, as described, the hands are moreeasily fed down therein.

The wheel E is detachably secured on the shaft F, the ends of which playin the vertical slots f at the upper portions of the side uprights ofthe main frame. G G are coiled Serial No. 199,980. (Model.)

springs in said slots and bearing on the ends of said shaft, and H H arethumb set-screws, which bear on the washers or blocks h, to ad just thetension of said springs.

I is a funnel or hopper attached to the horizontal beams i, secured toand standing out from proper parts of the uprights of the main frame.This funnel or hopper consists of the side plates, J, secured to thebeams 2', having the beveled portions j, and connected by a cross-bar,j, having its inner surface similarly beveled, as shown. The hopper isarranged so as to be in the same horizontal plane as the engagingportions of the two rollers.

In operation the hands of tobacco are fed through the hopper into thegroove of the lower wheel, the said wheel being at the same timerevolved, and thereby drawing the hand between it and the upper wheel,when it will be compressed by the engaging tongue and groove into aconvenient shape for packing. As the wheels continue to revolve ofcourse the hand will be expelled from the rear side of the machine.

The hopper or funnel directs the hands to the engaging portions of therolls, while its beveled construction permits the ready insertion of thehands. 7

Having described my invention, What I claim is- The combination of theframe having the projecting beams i, the lower roll journaled in theframe, and having an annular peripheral groove,the walls of said groovebeing beveled along their upper edges, the upper roll journaled in theframe and having an annular peripheral tongue engaging the groove in thelower roll, and the hopper secured to the beams i, and projecting oneach side of the rib of the upper roll, and consisting of the sideplates, J, having the beveled portionsjj,

and the beveled cross-bar j, connecting saidside plates, as set forth.

This March 13, 1886.

\V. R. LASSITER.

Witnesses: J. PAT. HOLT, INA L. HOLT.

